Spithead, 1784. His Majesty's frigate, Undine, sets sail for India and the seas beyond. Europe may be at peace - but in colonial waters the promises of statesmen count for little and the bloody struggle for supremacy still goes on. Richard Bolitho would have cause to remember his admiral's words: 'The task I am giving you would be better handled by a squadron'.

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Spithead, 1784.

His Majesty's frigate, Undine, sets sail for India and the seas beyond. Europe may be at peace - but in colonial waters the promises of statesmen count for little and the bloody struggle for supremacy still goes on. Richard Bolitho would have cause to remember his admiral's words: 'The task I am giving you would be better handled by a squadron'.

I love a good sea story. I had finished reading all the Patrick O'Brien books and started on C. S. Forester, now I have discovered Alexander Kent. He is not as well known as the other two but he is a master story teller and as good as the above mention writers. This book takes place in the period between the ending of the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary War. Many Royal Navy Captains are being beached at half pay. So Richard Bolitho is happy he is assign to Captain the 24 gun frigate Undine to sail to the East Indies. The trip goes down the coast of Africa around the Cape to India then on to what is now Indonesia. Lots of adventures along the way. He delivers the new British governor to the former Spanish post but finds the people almost dead with disease and constant fighting off native pirates. Now the real suspense, action, sea battles begin. Could not stop listening. Kent keeps on entranced in the story. Michael Jayson does a good job narrating the story. I hope that Audible will carry all the Alexander Kent books.

For all Patrick O'Brien fans who have run out of books this is decidedly one step down and should be listed as an adventure yarn. Not much seamanship here its up and down with the top gallants loke a whore's draws on a Saturday night in Portsmouth.
If you like your swashbuckling gory red and Navy blue you might well take to this.

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